It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end and that fall is just around the corner. It was a busy summer with a number of private tours, Tuesday Evening Strolls, History Saturday in the Cemetery, and our monthly Marker Cleaning Workshops. New this year, the Tuesday Evening Strolls, proved to be very popular and brought in many new visitors to the cemetery. We will certainly look at bringing that program back in 2017. I would like to thank Booster Club members, Steve Casaleggio, Mike McClain and Don Jennings for painting the exterior of the Cemetery Interpretive Center. It really looks great, sporting a new two-tone color scheme that matches the Sexton’s Tool House and restrooms, both of which were painted by the Boosters over the last couple of years.

History Saturday in the Cemetery, September 10, 10:00am—Join us for the final program of the year when Docents Pam Smith and Pat Stancel lead a tour of the cemetery grounds and tell us about, “What was going on in the world when they died.” It promises to be an interesting and informative topic. Meet next to the Sexton’s Tool House and wear comfortable walking shoes for this 90-minute program. Consider bringing along a hat and some sunscreen. Parking is available within the cemetery grounds and no advance reservations are required. While the program is free, donations are always appreciated to support our work in the cemetery.

Marker Cleaning and Workshop, September 17, 9:00am—This will also be our final marker cleaning workshop for the year as the weather starts to get a little cooler. This is a fun and easy volunteer project that anyone can do. All the necessary tools and supplies are provided along with instructions. Meet at the Sexton’s Tool House at the top of the Cemetery Road where you will find parking available. Dress for this hands-on project as you may get a little wet!

Spoon River Anthology, October 7-9, 14-16 and 21-23—Madrone Theatre Company and Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery will be presenting a unique adaptation by Ron Danko of Edgar Lee Masters’ cemetery inspired “Spoon River Anthology.” Director Danko and his cast have selected fifty monologues from Masters’ original Spoon River Anthology, (1915) and from his later work titled The New Spoon River (1924). The original music for this production was composed and will be performed by David Gordon. There will be nine performances starting on Friday evening, October 7 and continuing through Sunday afternoon, October 23. The evening performances on Friday and Saturdays will be at 7:30pm and the Sunday matinees will be offered at 2:00pm. All performances will be held at the Rogue Community College Performance Hall located in Medford at 130 E. 8th Street. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $12 for students and a group rate for ten or more attending the same performance is available. Please visit our website at www.friendsjvillecemetery.org and go to Spoon River Anthology-Fundraiser for additional information on the program and to purchase tickets. This is a fundraiser for the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery and our beautiful Pioneer Cemetery, one of the oldest and largest in the state of Oregon. We sincerely appreciate the Madrone Theatre Company, Ron Danko, David Gordon, Constance Jesser, Jois Harkness, Lea Worcester, Rob Hirschboeck and David Sours, along with Rogue Community College for the use of their Performance Hall, Wayd Drake, Lighting Designer, and David Gibb Photography, for making this all possible. This certainly is a community effort and we hope that you will support us by attending what promises to be a first class production and one that you don’t want to miss.

Featured image is headstone cleaning at Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery by Michele Simmons and her daughter Ruby.

Photo by Mary Siedlecki.